Fireman&#39;s signaling system.



Attorneys PATBNTED MAY 29, 1906.

A. J. HART. FIRBMANS SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1904..

: UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALAN J UDAH HART, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

FIREMANS SIGNALING SYSTEM.-

improvements in signaling systems adapted tobe used by firemen, and'isconnected with Ellie ordinary fire-hose used for extinguishing Theobject of the invention is to provide suitable means whereby a fire-hosemay be equipped with signal-wires which will be properly protected so asto avoid injury or destruction thereof and which will be utilized by afireman in a remote part of the building or upon the building to conveyan audible signal to his companions'upon the ground.

Referring to the annexed drawings, in which similar numerals ofreference indicate correspondin parts in all the views, Figure 1illustrates a fire-plug to which a hose is attached, which hose isequipped with my im- 1proved signaling means, though the hose is rokenat two places for convenience of illustration of a plurality of sectionsthereof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximatelythrough a coupling or joint between two sections of hose, illustratingthe manner of spanning such coupling. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig, 4 is a sectional view takenon line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings, 1 is a fire-plug or hydrant,which may be of any convenient construction.

2 is a box containing a battery and has attached thereto a signal-bellor other audible signal 3. Extending from the battery within the box 2are signal-wires 4 4, which extend to a plug 5, suitably insulated forthe passage of said wires, which plug 5 is connected with the shorthose-sections 6. (Shown in the drawings.) Either woven within the coveror sheathing of the hose or connected thereto within a suitablesheathing 7 the wires 4 are conducted, said wires Specification ofLetters Patent. Application filed December 12, 1904. Serial No. 236,488.

Patented ma ae, 1906.

extending the entire length of each hose-section except for a short.distance near the coupling-ring 8, commonly incldent to firehose, whichrings are adapted to engage the screw-threaded stems 9, projecting fromadjacent hose-sections. Extending from each hose-section at one end isafoldable'flap 10, (shown enlarged Fig. 2,). within which flap 10 thewires 4 are carried, said wires being fully insulated and properlyprotected within said flap, so as to prevent short-circuiting,

&c. The wires carried through the flaps 10 are connected with andterminate in pinso'r plugsll, (shown in the enlarged detail in Fig. 3,)which pins or plugs enter and. form contact with the socket members 12.(Shown in saidfigure.) Connected with the socket members 12 andextending longitudinally of each hose-section the wires 4 continuethrough and pass through in each. instance one of said foldable flaps10, while collars 13 are connected with said foldable fia s, as shown,the said collar 13 being of su cient length to approximately embracethehosesections, so as to retain the movable ends of 7 the flap 10 inposition, and thereby secure the plugs 11 within their sections 12. Forthe pur ose of protecting the movable end of the ap 10 the shoulders 14are provided upon the seats within which said sections 12 are placed,the said shoulders 14 projecting 5 sufiiciently far radially from thehose to proj ect beyond the upper extremity of the foldable flaps 10, sothat if the hose is dragged in a direction from the fire-plug 1 to thenozzle 15 the shoulders 14 will serve as a protecting means and guardfor the flaps 10, thereby preventing disengagement of the pins andsections 11 and 12.

s It will be evident that for the major portion of the hose the wires 4should be embedded within insulation 16, as shown in Figs.

3 and 4, which insulation may be covered by sheathing commonly incidentto the hose construction or may consist of a suitable strip connectedwith the hose in any suitable I00 manner. Upon one hose-section, as 6,in

close proximity to the nozzle 15 a push-button 17 is seated in thesocket 18 and is adapted by means of an ordinary spring-arm (commonlyincident to push-button constructions 1o 5 and not shown for thatreason) to close circuit between the two wires 4 4, thereby permittingthe fireman to signal from the noz- 1 zle end to his companions upon theground or at any remote point where the signal-box 2 may be located.

The operation of the device is as follows: Each hose-section beingequipped with a plurality of wires which terminate in the foldable flaps10 and are provided with the socket members 12 at opposite ends from theends on which the flaps 10 are connected, it is evident that thehose-sections may be coupled in the usual manner, and when coupled theflaps 10 may be thrown into such position that the pins 11 will engagethe sockets 12, thereby establishing a complete line of wiring from theplug 1 to nozzle 15, the spring-clips 13 serving tohold the flaps 10 inposition upon the hose-sections, so as to prevent accidentaldisplacement of the pins 11 from their sockets. When the hoseman desiresto signal to his companions upon the ground, all that is necessary is topress upon the push-button 17 and by a predetermined code of signalsconvey the necessary information through the wires 4 to the signal 3.The flaps 10 are necessary in a system of this character to provideinsulated means for carrying the wires 4 over the metallic connectionscommonly incident to fire-hose, said connections commonly comprising thering 8, which is supported upon the sleeve 8*, and by a screw-threadedconnection engaging with the companion sleeve 8 as shown in Fig. 2, aswithout the foldable flap 10 there would be no means of positivelyinsuring an uninterrupted circuit when required.

IVhile I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form ofmy invention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form orposition without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention,and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as areincluded within the scope of thefollowing claims or of mechanicalequivalents to the structures set forth.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

In a device of the character described, a plurality of hose-sections,insulated wires carried by each section, a flexible insulated membersecured to one end of each hosesection and adapted to receive saidwires, plugs on said wires adjacent the free end of each of saidflexible insulated members, a contacting member carried by each of thehose-sections, a shoulder adjacent to each of said contacting members, asegmental spring-clip secured to each of said flexible members andadapted to engage the adjacent hose-section, a push button at one end ofsaid wires, an alarm at the other end thereof, and a source ofelectrical energy for said wires.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALAN JUDAH HART. Witnesses F. H. GIBBs, M. MOALEER.

